Joyeux Anniversaire, Oneill29. J'éspère que tu aimes ce petit cadeau.

Chapter 24: Signs

May 2012

Andy stood there with a big goofy smile on his face and a curious expression of vulnerability in his eyes. She couldn't believe her ears. Had he really invited her to a Midsummer Night's Ball? Of all the things he could be inviting her to he had to pick the one that carried so much history for them. Or maybe that was the exact reason he chosen this event.

"Uh … midsummer?" she stammered. Why should he invite her to a ball?

"Well, it's not exactly midsummer night, but it's, uh, it's one of the most romantic balls in Los Angeles this summer."

"Romantic?"

"Well, that's what people call it." Andy lifted his arms and smirked. For a moment he looked at her expectantly, hopefully even. Then he seemed to crumble. He reached out, his fingers barely brushing her elbow. "You don't need to say anything right now. Just think about it, Sharon. The offer stands. I'd love to take you there."

Sharon turned around abruptly, her hand trying to smooth down her hair while her mind was working on overdrive and her legs took her away as quickly as possible. A romantic ball.

/

Sharon leaned back and groaned in a rather unladylike manner while Gavin opened another bottle of her favourite Pouilly Fumé. It was sinfully expensive, but then she was in serious trouble.

"So let me make this easy for you. You've been in love with him for two decades, you had one amazing night at the beach that still brings a blush to your face, for the past year at least you've been spending all your free time with him, you go on family trips with Ricky, you dream of him."

"I do not dream of him!"

"Correction: you dream of carrying his child which is, of course, far less intimate than dreaming of him. You keep talking about how he almost kissed you that one time and almost kissed you that other time…"

"I do not!"

"Do, too. In short, you are at the very least a little bit in love with Lieutenant Flynn. He's a dashingly handsome fellow to boot and now he has asked you out on a date. There really is only one possible response to that."

"It's not that easy."

"What do you stand to loose, Shar? You love dancing and from everything I've ever heard from you, you love dancing with Andy Flynn most of all."

"I just … why the big gesture? Why not ask me?"

"I hate being so blunt, but you are not exactly approachable when it comes to matters of the heart. The two of you have a lot of history, a lot of baggage, but you both seem to have rather fond memories of that midsummer night. Just … show him that you like him."

"But what if he doesn't like me back?"

"No man whether straight or gay invites somebody to 'the most romantic ball in Los Angeles' without having feelings for them."

"But … he didn't kiss me!"

"Maybe he didn't dare to kiss you, maybe this invitation is showing you how much he'd like to do just that. Have you ever even encouraged the poor guy, given him signs?"

"Signs? What kind of signs?"

"Oh honey, signs that you're interested in him. It looks to me as though the man is trying pretty hard. You've got to give him something to go on."

"I'm spending time with him. We're talking about anything and everything. I danced with him and he knows that I have forgiven him."

"But does he know how you feel about him?"

"What are you expecting me to do, Gavin? Tell him I'm in love with him? Open myself up to more heartache? Serve him my heart on a platter only for him to throw it away?"

"Why would he do that? Sometimes, in order to get what you want, you need to take a little risk, open up to new possibilities. It looks like that's exactly what he did inviting you to the ball. He's even given you time to make up your mind. All you need to do now is show him his advances are falling on fertile ground."

She snort-laughed into her glass of wine. "Fertile ground? Seriously? You couldn't find a more fitting analogy? I'm an old woman, there is nothing fertile about me anymore."

"Pre-menopausal mood swings? Gosh, honey, go get the guy before it's too late!"

"Stop making fun of me! Look at me. No matter how great the dress you're going to find me, I'm still a far cry from the woman I was two decades ago. I've got wrinkles on my face, my breasts are sagging, my bum is non-existent. Everything is drooping! My haircolour is fake, as are some of my teeth!"

"Have I mentioned how much I love you in full girl-freakout mood? Don't forget, this guy is crazy about you and at his age, his eyesight's got to be failing!"

She huffed and threw a pillow at him.

When Gavin woke her up the next morning she found herself in his guest room. It was still early, the sun was only just rising, but she could already hear the birds sing. She had a splitting headache, but her friend was his usual energetic self.

"Good morning sleeping beauty. Since you passed out on me last night, let's continue right where we left off. Text him!" He shoved her phone into her face. "Tell him you'd be delighted to join him for the ball. Tell him that it's wonderful idea and that you're excited to go."

"I cannot tell him that! What if he didn't mean it like that?"

"Shar, we have been over this. He's inviting you to a romantic ball. There is nothing ambiguous about that. Call him!"

"After breakfast."

After breakfast she put the call off to lunchtime when she would have a free minute, but when she was in the parking garage waiting for the elevator, Andy sauntered up beside her. His eyes seemed to light up when he saw her and that gave her the courage to follow through on Gavin's advice. Signs. Signs! She gave Andy a coy smile and instead of a greeting only said yes. His brows furrowed in confusion. "Yes to what?"

Poor guy, how was he supposed to know what she was talking about? "Gosh, to the dance!" she stammered. Good heavens, this was like going to prom all over. "I mean, if your invitation still stands?"

"That it does."

"So, uh …"

"Have dinner with me tonight and I'll tell you all the details?"

Yes. Dinner. With Andy. She nodded, still a little flustered from unexpectedly running into him. Then, remembering Gavin's words from the night before, she took a step towards him and found herself looking up at him like a shy school girl, her hands fiddling with his tie. A sign. Surely Gavin hadn't meant she should do that in the parking garage of the LAPD?

Andy's hand briefly covered hers. "I'll pick you up at seven."

"Uh, fine." She let go of his tie and took a step back. Phew, why couldn't this be easier?

/

Sharon took another sip of the champagne before looking at herself in the mirror. This dress was special. It had looked good on the hanger already and she loved the feel of the soft midnight blue silk against her skin. Then she had seen Gavin's lips turning into a grin upon her leaving the changing room. Gosh, what a dress! It was simple in its elegance, but it showed off all her best parts. She looked stunning - and she wasn't one to say that lightly. A part of her was gratified that even well into middle age she could still look this good.

Gavin came into focus beside her, the flute of champagne raised already. "I assume we have got ourselves a winner?"

Sharon blushed. "Oh Gavin, don't get me wrong. The dress is … absolutely incredible. But what if it's too much? What if he really just wants to go out for a night of dancing?"

Gavin shook his head, "Believe me, even I want more than a night of dancing with you when you're wearing this dress, and I don't even like you in that way, honey."

Sharon rolled her eyes, but her cheeks became even more red when Gavin mentioned the second part of their little shopping trip. Lingerie. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. If she didn't know for sure that Sharon Raydor did not freak out, she would be freaking out right about now.

Gavin raised his glass and his eyebrows at the same time. "Now, let's find something that will truly blow his mind."

"Gavin, you cannot possibly think that he is going to see any of that on our first date!"

"See, that's progress! You're calling it a date! Even if it weren't, may I remind you what happened twenty-one years ago? Judging by that strapping young man in San Francisco, Mr Flynn got to see a lot more than just your undies."

She threw a bra at him and laughed when it got stuck on his glasses. "Serves you right!"

When the taxi dropped them at Gavin's ostentatious villa hours later Sharon was a little tipsy and rather grateful her trusty shopping assistant was handling their loot. She had just spent a small fortune and felt a little like a girl before prom night. She held onto Gavin's arm as their made their way to the front door and tried to keep her head from spinning.

"Now we need a game plan!" Gavin rubbed his hands together in glee. "You will no doubt be the most beautiful woman of the evening and he will only have eyes for you. Now, how will you show him you didn't just tag along for the dancing?"

"Signs."

"Exactly, signs. Now, honey, what did I teach you about signs?"

/

She had been to the bathroom at least ten times in the past half hour when her doorbell finally rang. Taking a deep breath that did nothing to settle her nerves she opened the door and found herself across from a bouquet of colourful wildflowers.

"Gosh, Andy, those are beautiful." Wildflowers were her favourite. They were so full of life and colour and nature.

"Not nearly as beautiful as you are." The compliment should have sounded corny, but it seemed so genuine coming from him. The way he looked at her gave her goosebumps and made her feel unsteady on her feet. She was grateful for the task of finding the flowers a vase and arranging them on her dinner table while she ran her fingers over the delicate petals. When she turned around she noticed that he had been checking her out and she could feel warmth rising in her face.

The evening passed like a dream. The ballroom was beautifully decorated, the food was excellent, they even served grenadine and soda. But she only had eyes for the man across from her. She couldn't believe that they never ran out of topics to talk about. They danced most of the night hardly taking a break to eat the dinner.

At first Sharon was very conscientious about giving Andy enough signs: she put her hand over his at dinner and she ran her fingers through the soft hairs at the back of his neck when they danced. She held his glance and leaned in to press a kiss against his cheek. Gosh, did he smell good!

The longer the evening went on the closer they moved until they were slow dancing with her arms around his neck and him holding her tight. Andy's lips were warm against her forehead and her temple and she tenderly placed a kiss on his neck. His hand slipped into her hair, then down her back stroking the soft skin left bare by her dress. She hummed and then moaned in pleasure no longer having to think about showing him just how much she liked this. His hands were gentle, she could feel the callouses when he touched her cheek, the fingers travelling on into her hair, cupping the back of her head and pulled her even closer. "I dreamed about this, about our dance, and I thought that I had imagined a lot of it. But I didn't. This … gosh, Sharon, this feels just as wonderful as it did back then."

"I know," she sighed and kissed his neck again, then his jaw. "This is wonderful, you are wonderful, Andy."

"No, not me. You are the wonderful one." She lifted her head and looked at him. She could so very easily get lost in his eyes, hand him her heart and let him run with it. The words of his letter came back to her while he kept caressing her cheek.

Sharon, I dream of holding you the way I held you all those years ago. I dream of a second chance for us.

A second chance. This was their second chance. Humming happily, she put her head back on his shoulder and placed another warm kiss against the skin of his neck. His scent was still intoxicating and she loved the way his arms tightened around her. "A second chance," she whispered to herself, "a chance at happiness."

She felt like she could melt into him, being this close to him was overwhelming all her senses. Then the music stopped for a moment and he took her hand leading her out onto the terrace. It didn't matter that it wasn't quite midsummer yet and that the ball had a different theme altogether. She glanced up at the stars and then into his eyes. Gosh. So this was it. This really was the moment. She cupped his face with one hand and returned his smile. Their eyes met and she nodded briefly before she closed her eyes, bringing her face closer to his.

"Sharon, oh Sharon," his voice was hoarse and sounded incredibly sexy. She hummed never opening her eyes but instead moving a little closer to him. Would he kiss her now? She felt his fingers on her face, tenderly running over the skin of her cheeks, down her neck and to her shoulders. Oh Andy. She waited with baited breath for what was sure to come next. Would he still taste the same? Would it still feel the same?

But instead of being pulled close to him she felt herself being pushed back, all contact gone save for his hands around her upper arms.

"Sharon, stop!"